Prison Governor Jailed for Affair with Drug Gang Boss

Prison governor Kerri Pegg jailed for secret relationship with gang boss Anthony Saunderson and accepting a £12k Mercedes from drug money.

A prison governor once hailed as a “rising star” has been jailed for nine years after forming a secret relationship with a notorious drug dealer and helping him gain day release.

Kerri Pegg, 42, was convicted of misconduct in public office and accepting criminal property following a trial at Preston Crown Court. Pegg, who rapidly rose through the ranks to become governor at HMP Kirkham, had a secret affair with Liverpool gang boss Anthony Saunderson, helping him bypass prison rules while accepting gifts including a £12,000 Mercedes bought with drug money.

Judge Graham Knowles KC said Pegg “catastrophically compromised” herself and betrayed public trust. Despite being warned and trained, she pursued the relationship, broke protocol, and concealed personal debts that made her vulnerable to corruption.

Saunderson — jailed for 35 years for drug trafficking — used encrypted EncroChat messages to refer to Pegg and joke about her new car. When police raided her home, they found items with Saunderson’s DNA, a burner phone, and luxury goods far beyond her means.

Pegg’s misconduct continued even after Saunderson’s release, as she stayed in contact while managing drug strategy across six prisons. Officials said her actions “undermined trust” in the prison service, but also demonstrated a firm commitment to rooting out corruption.

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